You can implement reusable containers into take-outs with the German Pfand-system. You pay a small fee for the containers and if you bring it back, you get your fee back
You are talking to people who like to live in 500m2 houses that have air-conditioning running 24/7, even at moderate temperatures and who create over 500kg of garbage per person per year.
@@dan_mer then it's even more important to talk to them and at least let them know that there are solutions that they might not even be aware of. I'm sure, many people would want to live more sustainably, but just don't know how or what to demand from the politics
2:25 Just to clarify... when we say "pas terrible" in France, it's not a compliment; it doesn't mean "not as bad as I feared" but "not good" or at least "just average".
@@Winona493 Well, literally it means "not terrible" (could be worse), but we don't mean that as "good enough", rather as "could be way better"... a case of seeing the glass half empty you could say. ;)
@@19Edurne Thanks. The French are a bit pessimistic, picky and naggy, it seems. But because of this you maybe have the best European kitchen! You have, for sure. But as the French: please do some research about the vegan kitchen! You' re still behind when it comes to veganism and that is a pity. Keep your standards even in this topic! That is my birthday wish.
I think, seeing your reaction about the differences between Europe and the US, that living in Europe would be the better option for you. Watching all your videos, I can see how happy you are being in Europe. Move here while you’re still young. You will not regret it. Pick a nice spot you prefer and go for it.
That's exactly what I have been thinking watching his videos. Instead of pointing out all the differences and dreaming about life in Europe, I would just move there and not just visit once a year. Unless there's something holding him back...
NO NO NO NO! Stop coming to Europe to live there! Come here, see and experience how our society works, vote blue and create your own society like that. The 53 houses street where I live already has 5 houses that are sold or rented to USA citizens and our kids are unable to move to their own home because of shortages.
@@dikkiedik53I think you dont understand how fucked american "democracy" is. The people have little to no control over the really important stuff. If you vote blue they build a lot of suburbs with single family homes. If you vote red you have to build them yourself. Either way you're not getting a house anytime in the next 100 years if you're under 30 now. Also, same could be said for us. Why arent we voting to build bigger buildings? More people coming here from countries like the US would boost our economy and quality of life immensely. Also also, i wouldnt blame americans for the housing crisis. Not sure how many americans migrate here, but there's absolutely no way they're a significant part of the population. I personally have never even met an american here. Its more so that most homes are now owned by 3 companies who have a monopoly on the housing market and they inflate the prices significantly
@@dikkiedik53 That's circumstantial evidence. Sucks for you, but there's barely any US'ians moving here, at least in the Netherlands. And even then- we're not full, we just have a shortage of houses, so we need to build more to get more people, as our population would otherwise be decreasing (and almost all of our main industries are partially sustained by foreign workers, like with ASML) Tho out of all the people who could move here, I'm the least fan of US'ians. But I bet when they get more accustomed to the culture here, they will improve their behavioral things that bother me. Lol.
Exactly my thought, the same kind of automatic returns. And with a suitably large sum people *will* do it. Perhaps make it more advanced too. Give each a QR code, if handed in soon return 100% of the sum, or give that sum as a discount. The sum should be higher then the purchasing cost for McDonalds of the containers. If people wait with returning them return 80% of the sum instead of 100%, so the risk of germs growing there and getting into the plastics is lower or damage due to UV radiation etc... On the whole the system should more or less pay for itself...
@@Luredreier I was at a KFC here in the Netherlands just yesterday and the cups had a QR code on the bottom. You pay € 1,50 deposit for the cup which will be refunded through a machine reading the QR code. Only problem I have with it, is that it transfers the money to your account through an app. I use that particular app, but at the same time as I was there, an older couple really struggled with it. The employees didn't care and said they couln't help. So we ended up paying them their refund in cash as we took the cups through the machine. This was only for the cups, all other material at KFC is cardboard and paper which can be recycled. Except for the plastic bags the sauces are in.
It could... but since deposit cups aren't mandatory, but only an option in Germany, McDonald serves everything in cardboard cups if you don't ask specifically for reusable ones.
It could work... If the legislation was done right, with intention an the recycling system stem was a good one and of course, do not forget, people's education
The trouble is, with countries like USA not caring about the planet it makes the initiatives of France and a few other EU countries seem like a drop in the ocean. Here in Croatia we have far too much plastic packaging.
I mean you got to start somewhere, and I think that these kind of initiatives prove that it's possible to make it work. But yeah I think there is a need to put more pressure on certain countries that contribute way more to the overall degradation of the planet so they make arrangements.
Table service is not "sometimes" anymore, it's always in all McDo now. When you pass your order and choose to eat at a table, they gave you a small slate with a number and when your food is ready, some staff members member look after your number and serve your meal. With that and the reusable tableware, yep we turn McDonalds almost into a real restaurant in France :p
In Norway, we've had a system for recycling bottles of glass and plastic for nearly 80 years (cans came into this system like 20-30 years ago). You pay a small fee when you buy the product and later you can return it at designated palces (usually in supermarkets) to get that fee back in cash (only plastic and bewerage cans have this fee nowadays). Its basically a pawn system. Its been working great. If Fast food chains also did this with their cups and such, it would just be sustainable as people would be less inclined to steal or dmg them to reduce plastic usuage. Good video.
We have a similar system in Canada. A consignment fee is tacked on to the cost of beverages sold in glass or plastic bottles or aluminium cans at time of purchase and the fee is refunded when the empty containers are returned. The system is easy and efficient.
Man, you made me hungry! I live in the southeast of Germany, and France is a little bit too far away to drive there for a snack, but the French really love their food, so it's no wonder that McD's adapted. They wouldn't have gotten a foot on the ground there if they hadn't.
@@lyc0h la Belgique était avant BELGICA, ça existait avant même que les français aient décidé de s'appeler français. Quand vous aviez juste l'Aquitaine et autour, donc faut arrêter de faire le malin. Les français ont bouffé le sud qui franchement est plus espagnol que français et la Flandre au nord. Le reste de BELGICA les pays bas l'avait récupérer. Et puis plus d'il y a un siècle, le pays, à ce moment devenue la france, a rendu une misère de ce qui a avait pris. L'Allemagne et les pays bas aussi pour réformer le pays maintenant appelé Belgique. Clairement non seulement tu sais pas de quoi tu parles, mais en plus tu ramènes le foot que personne n'a mentionné. Quand y a littéralement des club de foots hooligans en grande Bretagne et que les français sont les seuls à rager dès que la Belgique va plus plus loin en coupe du monde ou autres compétition. Alors que qd on gagne les pays sont content pour nous comme on est content pour eux. Si il y a bien une définition de rageux en Europe... c'est bien la France les numéros 1. Avec les parisiens qui gagnent la palme.
I have never been to McDo in the US, so I may be talking to McDo who already do this : anyway, in France, every McDo has a special place for children to work off their energy after their meal : stairs to climb, basket ball to play, races to run with obstacles etc. I think this is a very good thing !
@Noelegamer - There are 13,438 McD's in the USA and 1,564 in France. Since, some of the ones in the USA are right on main roads with traffic fumes, its quite reasonable not to have children playing there.
We also have table service in the NL. You place your order on those big touch screens, take a number, and they'll come bring it to your table. This has decreased my rage when waiting for my order significantly lol. Recently visited McD again, we also have these hard-plastic reusable cups now, but it doesn't look as good as the French version unfortunately lmao. When you're ordering from them at home, you don't get the reusable stuff, but everything's made from recycled (I think) paper. Also... I spend 3 months in North Carolina a few years ago. I still miss those McBiscuits for breakfast, not gonna lie!!
It's the same in Croatia. Also helps that I don't need to talk to anyone, I can just order on my own and get it delivered to the table. Introvert heaven.
@@Hosigie Yeah I imagine that's a good development for introverts :) So what's the national special on the Croatian McDonald's menu? if I'm ever there :D
Have you ever heard of "McTrain"..? Maybe not, as americans don't use a lot of trains! But yeah: There was a time in Germany, when trains had a McDo restaurant on board! :) People didn't like it much, so now they use a bistro restaurant. What's still avaible is: McBoat! It's a McDo with a drive-trough for boats! ... not sure if it is a thing in the US, maybe not, ... at some McDos there are McCafé attachted. Very nice styled café, where you get coffee, espesso, cappucino, cakes, doughnuts and other sweet stuff - served on ceramic cups and ceramic plates - and real metal forks and spoons! :)
There was a McDonalds at the cruise ship MS Silja Europa that goes on regular trafic between Finland and Sweden in the 90s. The first floating McDonalds in the world. Wasn't a big hit and they were only open a couple of years.
Joel i am in the middle of englands ,in the North West Midlands near Stoke-on-Trent, in newcastle-under-lyme the mcdonald's has gone like France has,all modern,new tables chairs and as you order .as you get in at several order screens then you can go collect or have it brought to your table when placing order on screen click table service and your tables number
Feli from Germany did a video once where she talked about culture shucks coming to America. One was that you using one way plastic even if you eat at home and you had a dish washer! You had to chance your attitude, I think or your mindset... Or move😄
And it's the same at Burger King, Five Guys, KFC, Popeye's and the other fast food chains in France. Unfortunately, for takeaway, they still use paper wrappings and paper cups.
4:34 I was in Paris before 1997 and have seen McDonald's stores there, so it can't be that they have only been in France since 1997, probably they mean 1979
About the single use containers: I personally get the impression that Americans more often than not will use disposable plates, cups, baking tins and what not at home ON A DAILY BASIS, is that right? If so, WHY? What about normal, washable tableware, glass cups?
I've heard from people who travel a lot say that every fast food chain is better in Europe than in the US. In the US, you would go to e.g. McD because you have to, not because you really want to.
Before obese and vegan lobbies went through, it was even better. May it McD, Burger King or the others. Fast food and junk food were always associated. But it was a change in taste and quality. There were always more balanced food in restaurants and some even made vegetarian food. Noone forced anyone to eat fast food. Then, at some point, the steaks in the burgers were like cardboards. A few years later, we finally get normal burgers back. Of course meat here are still less greasy, but the taste is back. Steaks used to be 150 grams, now it's 75 grams. Not sure but with nutritions value in trend, I think Mc Donald's and other American chains made it so the basic menu fill the maximum nutritious value per meal. More or less. In my opinion, it's useless because despite what people complain about, they will always overeat, for most of them. As for reusable packaging, you have to know the first time they implement it, it was more of traditional dishware. And obviously, there were a lot of theft. In the same scale as bars were subjected to glasses theft as collectible. It happens less as almost all glasses have become standardized and brands rarely order special series any longer. These new versions of reusable table wares sure are now awesome and contribute in improving Mc Donald's image and sales. Last point. I don't know about other countries in EU, but Mc Donald's has always the first fasfood chain in France. They have often been ranked first in number of meals served.
There is a video on here that shows you the difference between the added fats/chemcials and flavourings in US fast food the EU, You've got loads of bad things in there that aren't needed. Then they sell folk medical products to get rid of the symptoms that the stuff in the food gives folk.
Well, we don't really go there because we want to either😂. It's usually just for conveniance in a stressful or unusual situation, or as teenager (because it's camparably cheap). Sometimes as a "treat" or when you crave something fatty and unhealthy. It was shocking to me how common it is in the US to eat bad fast food. The US has some smaller good chains that we don't have though.
@@max_sch4462 Honestly, here in France, it's cheaper to go in a small local restaurant than a fastfood or pizzeria. Even Kabob start inflating their prices. With a kabob and drink starting around 8-9€ while a daily special is around the same cost.
Hell yeah! Watching some Fern. They do really good and compact documentaries on all sorts of topics and are usually quite reaction-friendly. So if something peaks your curiosity I'd like to see some more reactions to Fern. :D
In the Netherlands you pay an extra fee for every single use bottlle or can. If you return the single use bottle or can back to the store, you will get the extra fee back. We call it “ statiegeld” . The returned bottles or cans will be recycled.
I love how recognizable some voices are, I listened to the first segment and had to look up if Simplicissimus (their German channel) posted a video on this topic 😅
if you want to look at how many plastic in the ocean, afterwards on the beaches, come to Norway/Lofoten. Each year people clean the beaches, voluntary, it's a movement and they gets tons of. garbage and plastic!
Years ago Wimpy in the UK would cook the food while you were there and food was on china plates and tea/coffee in china cups and saucers ... I loved Wimpy ... how things have changed for the worst
Thank you again for the great video. A very interesting point you cover here. It will be very important for the future how to prevent waste. In Germany we have the deposit system for drinks, which is to be introduced across Europe in the near future. This has worked here with drinks (water, juices, wine, milk and also Coke) for decades. Similar to Norway (as nicotine 4015 also explains) Only in Germany it's on almost everything (except drink cartons and a few plastic bottles). There is no higher deposit on single-use plastic bottles so that they can actually be returned and recycled. There is a lower deposit on reusable plastic or glass bottles and the manufacturers get them back so they can be cleaned and refilled. I get the impression that the reusable tableware like in France could also work excellently for you in the States. Of course it has to be uniform and so you can exchange the dishes that you picked up at McDo the night before at Burger King or someone else. They want to establish this in Europe when it comes to tableware and that's a good thing. Look for videos about the German deposit system for drinks, that will definitely be very interesting for you considering your reaction to this video... t c
That French approach to single use plastic sounds great. I hope the Netherlands get more strict on plastic too. We're working on it, but definitely not as fast.
All but a couple of EU countries, plus the UK, Norway, Switzerland, Taiwan, China, Jamaica, Rwanda, Kenya, and some Canadian provinces and Australian cities ban single-use thin plastic bags, takeaway containers, and cups. They also require stores to charge for other plastic bags.
Starbucks does that here - they sell reusable branded cups and if you bring that cup in yourself the next times the coffee is cheaper because you bring your own
Mc Donalds Germany is using like all-paper packaging. Which means they are still producing tons of waste, just not so much plastic. Reusable is obviously better than recycleable, but even the French can't make reusable stuff work for takeout. Funny story about packaging: I bought new blinds for my Velux windows. Both I got were produced in Germany, but 1 produced before the plastic reduction doctrine hit, one after. The one from before was obviously made for display in a store. Shiny all-round print, bit plastic window to look at the product, nifty plastic mechanism to help install it, fitted styrofoam inserts. The one from after was just a brown carton with a sticker. Clearly the idea here is online sale. No plastic stuff to help install, but far simpler cardboard to do the same job, just less shiny. No window, no plastic bags, no styrofoam. Paper, paper and more paper. I weighed the mass of plastics and the one before was like 50g of plastic. After, like 2g. Also the before one had a metal screw driver with a separate plastic grip piece. So that was a lot of added metal weight for a single-use item. Of which you would receive multiples when you have more windows. Making them effectively superfluous, even if you have no damn screw driver in your home before. A very powerful demonstration of state power enforcing an environmental policy that could hurt your business, if it wouldn't apply to everyone the same. But since everyone plays by the same rules, it's a net win for everyone. Velux doesn't need to overpay for pricy, overengineered plastic, the consumer doesn't get bombarded with bulky styrofoam and the environment is less poluted with plastics.
Ate a McDo in Paris before taking the plane then got a voucher to go to Munich's airport McDonalds. Those two were world apart, while it's service at your table, fresh local vegetables and meat in France, it was pretty much leather quality in Munich. Didn't even finished it. Might be one bad experience but overall i think there is a good reason McDo France is the second most profitable worldwide
In Spain, we have selective collection, we recycle plastic, paper and cardboard, organic, and then we have the non-recycled garbage. The containers are placed by the city councils of each city so that it can be recycled. The bad thing is that not all people do it, only those who are aware of it.
I get your point. But I believe the aim of this video is: If we care enough about something and make it reach to governments even a giant as Mr Mc have to invest and turn things around to fit in. Obviously a country with more take away will have to look for another solution, but that doesn't mean there is no solution or at list a better option than the actual. Also even if 30% is in restaurant sales, a 30% of a huge garbage mountain, makes it a garbage hill less of residues.
I haven´t visited McD here in Finland over a year becouse i don´t consume any carbs, but before that all the food are packaged same way no matter do you eat in the restaurant or if you order take away. But only the cover of your drink has plastic in it.
From Australia. A friend of mine is a cattle producer who has won many awards for her beef. A few years ago she was shocked to see Maccas advertising Angus burgers using her branded name without authority. Their response was that it was "like" award wining beef. C'mon! They eventually paid a large settlement but the biggest thing that annoyed her was the damage caused to her business by them selling something that tastes like cardboard referencing her brand. I've never worked out how they turn top beef into the crap they sell. Must be their secret recipe!
I remember in the 80’s-90’s when the burgers used to come in a styrofoam-box, then they changed to paper. Then they got rid of the plastic-straw (just recently) and changed to a cardbox-straw, good for the environment maybe but a really horrible idea since it get mushy fast. One could always ask for the plastic one though (they hide it nowadays). I think the main difference between the US and the EU is the sizes and the levels of sugar. Actually there is a difference in every country because the menu is not the same. Also Coca Cola tastes different depending on where you are in the world.
16:37 In Germany, if you go to the bakery and want a coffee, you can either choose the disposable packaging, i.e. single-use or reusable packaging, and then you buy it once, which is a bit more expensive, and then the next time you have to bring the cup yourself.
This just goes to show that governments need to legislate to change corporate behaviour. This French McDo solution works in France because it is the culture to eat in, and can therefore sort their trash into the different recycling bins. Using such (rather cool, I have to admit) designer plastic ware in drive-through, take-away cultures would be even more environmentally harmful, because people would throw the heavier plastics away and not recycle them. McDonalds in Australia (Maccas) uses almost entirely paper packaging, including the straws. They still retain plastic drink lids and plastic containers for the ice cream desserts (or whatever that stuff actually is). Not sure what the Happy Meal packaging is though - I suspect the toys that the kids lose or break within hours of getting them are still plastic. But government legislation is the reason for converting largely to paper packaging.
Actually, McDonald's ice cream machines work everywhere. I was surprised about somebody complaining they were always broken in the US, and I thought it was a joke, but it's actually real. McDonald's was introduced in my country in the early 90s, and there was one next to a walking area and it was common to get in just for an ice cream cone. I've been in many countries and continents, and I've always had ice cream in McDonald's. So, yeah, good government regulation is better than good ol' free market capitalism just let us screw you a bit more while you pay more.
That packaging hasn’t rolled out everywhere in Paris yet. But even Disneyland Paris has mostly reusable dishes and packaging now, even in the quick service restaurants. The laws require it. The long lines at fast food places here have always astonished me, though. They recently opened the first Krispy Kreme and people camped overnight in freezing rain to get the giveaways for their first customers.
What's better, reusable plastic or one-way paper/carton? Would really like a study on that. It's not immediately obvious to me. I mean, I guess the paper/carton also has a thin layer of plastic coating these days. But only a very thin one.
Most of the people I know where sad to see you leave. It was just this constant whining that got on our nerves. Either you are in or you are out. There never could be another deal. Though it has amused me to hear that there is frozen Pizza in North Ireland made in Germany marked with a sales restriction to North Ireland. Although you might wish to fact check your government from time to time. The new stuff needed for visiting the EU, yeah, what can I say. The British government also voted for that when you were still in the EU. The EU is not 'punishing' the UK.
@@Dreamfox-df6bg I Voted Leave but we were lied to and I made the mistake of trusting Politicians!! Yeah I know stupid!! Maybe one day we'll be back! if there is still a World left!
@@petersp63I understand. I have noticed long before that that our own politicians tended to take credit for anything good the EU brought us and blame everything bad in the EU if true or not. Before the Brexit I wouldn't have been sure if the people around here hadn't voted the same. People didn't realize that no matter how bad some things the EU brought were it also brought a lot of good stuff. To be honest, we could have used a very critical EU member to force the others to start working on the downsides.
@@TheXshot I don't thinknit is in france for long either... I strongly suspect it was a limited experiment in maybe just one restaurant and it turned out to be way more troublesome and using alot more resources cleaning plastic tubs... So I feel pretty sure it is not in use anywhere. I could be wrong. But I am usually good at educated guessing.😆
It's the way ahead, Joel - McDonald's arent the only Amercian fast food chain to be adapting to local ways, even in the UK! Sure, we don't yet have the standard of comfort in our restaurants or the nice reusable containers - but we're all acutely aware of the need to recycle as much as we're able, and all the reasons why. Starbucks, Costa and most of the other coffee houses offer re-useable cups for sale - the idea being that you carry your own cup and hand it to them for filling when you place your order, and then you get a small discount for doing so... It doesn't have to be one of their cups either - anything of the same volume is acceptable, even if it advertises a rival company (though not many people actually try that one on!). Recycled paper cups are still available, including insulated ones, but your drinks often costs a little more if you rely on them. Table service is also increasingly common again - you order in the normal way, take a number, ensure it is recorded in your order slip, then go and sit down. (Actually, I've been praying for decades that the mostly student-run coffee houses will realise this, as will have most others who have stood in a lengthy queue, caused by no other reason than the speed or capacity of the coffee machine...! And - Marks & Spencer's please take note - it is even more annoying when all you need is water for your TEA!!) McD.'s do it, Burger King does it, KFC is increasingly doing it too. Outer bags are not automatically provided anymore and there's a charge if you want one; while the polystyrene food containers are long gone - in favour of recycled cardboard ones! Out in the supermarkets meanwhile, you pay anything between 50p and a couple of quid for a "Bag for Life", which they'lll replace, free of charge, when it becomes too worn to use any more. Poly carrier bags are still available, but have cost extra for years, now - and in some stores are only fractionally less that a 'Bag for Life'.... Some companies - notably Morrison's and M & S, now sell strong paper carrier bags instead - recycled paper, of course! This film is a real eye-opener - I particularly like the "Croque McDo," as the posh cheese and ham toastie is the go-to snack for the French - "Un Croque Monsieur." Now if only Starbuck's could be persuaded to pay their multi-million pounds tax bill....
My problem with McDonald's is that I'm used to eating in a civilized manner with cutlery. I also find it pretty disgusting to see how people try to shove a burger that is way too big into their mouths and cover themselves with sauces and fat.
I actually have two of the KFC cups. I felt a bit like a thief even though I basically paid for it. The reason is that here in leftwing nut town (aka The Netherlands) most companies are now also not allowed paper cups for coffee or water. And I am a freelancer so I work where there's work. So I use that KFC plastic cup as my water cup. And I rarely do MacDonalds or BK (or even KFC). We just have so many better options here in NL. A good Surinam Roti, or a great Indonesian Rendang.
Here in the UK McDonald's has had to change its colours to Green and Yellow. This may be all over Europe as well as I haven't seen one when I travel. McDonald's for some time tried to get a place in the town of Richmond upon Thames which was vetoed by the local council and residents. It was only agreed upon after they agreed to make it as inconspicuous as possible. As a result it wasn't the best of places to go!
As a Ukrainian, I can say quite a few things how EU is impacting MCDONALD'S or KFC's operations in Europe, even though Ukraine is not part of the EU yet. Table service - yes, the employees track the tag you specify in your order and bring your food to the table, even is you are on the second floor Sorting waste - when you are finished eating, you are expected to sort your waste into separate bins. Liquids and solids remains go into their designated buckets, and then you also sort plastic and carton waste Self-checkout: you just come to the stand, select what you want, pay by card, and the receipt will have your order number. When your food is ready, they will call out the food number and you take it. Or, as I mentioned, if you want to eat in and don't want to wait, you just pick the tag and specify the number and they'd bring it to you. When I was visiting in France, I was quite surprised that they don't usually take out in general. Probably, that is much to do with traditions of food consumption. But if we talk about the US, that also has everything to do with the food consumption traditions of preferring a meal in the confinds of your own home, even if the meal was not cooked in your own kitchen.
Belgian here (flemish) we also say mcdo and the restaurants look really similar. Ofcourse, Belgium is smashed between France, Netherlands, Germany and luxenbourg. Ofc, we have the best of all of em in a way :p. Generally we let the netherlands do everything new, and 10 years later, after we see it works or not, we copy it 😂 well, except our highways
They seem to love ‘Five Guys’ in Paris a lot. A friend I was staying with was very excited to take me there cause I’d not had it before in Australia. I couldn’t share her love of it though, haha. Was ok, but as overpriced as hell.
MD in France in 1997?? I remember having been in MD in Straßburg (very east of France) in the 1980s. And one of the reasons was that it was a different taste compared to the German side of the river Rhine.
Haven't been to a McD (germany) in maybe 10 years. Only time i'd go there when i go on a longer train ride and need a snack midnight waiting for a connection. Anytime else i can make a better burger in much shorter time it would take to drive to the next McD. And i would want a burger maybe four or five times a year anyway.
it's not that hard. make a financial insentive to return the said packaging to the store. like 15% off your bill if you return the "tableware" at your next visit. do that and you'll see loads of people onboard with it.
In Germany it is forbidden now to take out your left over food in plastic given from the restaurant! But who cares? I love it and always take a "Tupperware" with me when I visit a restaurant, because I need it, even in Germany with its small sizes as the Americans say. For me they are still way too big. In the US I probably need two or three containers.😂
you should not forget that Mc Donalds is a franchise company.. so if a frenchmen has a mc-licence he will try to make his shop likeable to the french audience
In Germany, the packaging and even the straws at MacDonalds are all made of paper (with the exception of the little sauce packs, which of course, are not going to last in paper. I’d prefer the to have reusable plastics as well, but the paper is at least recyclable.
McDonald's France looks like McDonald's UK, but different. It's' yellow/white on black colours here too. Natural wood colours, comfortable seating etc. Depends on which McDonald's you go to though. I think there are still yellow on red McDonald's. I haven't seen a McDonald's with the odd interior design and colour scheme that the US McDonald's has. I don't think we have the big McDonald's roadside signs either, possibly because I am wrong and haven't seen one and/or because the motorways and roads don't have ads on them (or at least it's rare to see a roadside billboard)
One of the reasons is that in the USA the government does not take care of the healthcare or the environment they put money and profit above humans. This is why mcdonald’s are obligated to adjust to regulations related to wellbeing in countries where people are cared upon. Sadly The USA invades countries around the world with their cheap chains without respecting cultural foods and habits. I am Canadian, I traveled extensively and I am always disappointed with this invasion, where ever you want to take a picture of an attraction there’s either a restaurant, a coffee shop shop in the way. They buy the best street corners, or they are attached to the attraction one way or the other. They overpay so the owner have no choice but surrender. Lately I went to Taiwan, and they are invaded with so many American brand it looked like a joke. Funny that the country is supposed to be protected by the US not to be invaded by the Chinese while they are already invaded commercially by the very one who’s their to protect them. Go figure. Just an other observation, Canadians are invaded by American tv, film and music, when you cross the border by car, it take few miles before the Canadians waves are cut. Sadly the Us is cutting its chances to discover a very rich French and English Canadian culture has the rest of the world can. Just drive to Montreal and go to a mcdonald’s, you’ll already see the quality difference
I am not a McDo fan but in France there is only a McDo nearby. I tried it and it was actually nice. They had the tableware they wash like in the vid. I tried McDo back in Belgium and it just wasn’t as good. I suspect McDo in France has higher standards maybe because French are fussy about food and have many alternatives. Burger King and Quick on the other hand seem the same in France and Belgium.
I’m English but have lived in France for over a decade, I moved here when I was 8. The French food regulations for McDonald’s are so strict, the quality is so good. All McDonalds have table service in France now and they are all so clean and modern. I’ve heard the ones in Italy are also really good but I doubt they are better than France. 🇫🇷 ❤
McDonalds is also better in Australia. We have better quality ingredients. However, we need those cool reusable containers, this is next level!! Styrofoam was discontinued years ago. And we are phasing out the plastic. Paper straws. McFlurrys and Sundaes are served in cardboard containers that will break down in landfill. Hormone treatment for animals that will be used for food is banned. We also have bigger tables as many groups visit the restaurant. We also have macarons in McCafe, Australia (McCafe originated in Australia).
Germany here. It's just the same with the ingredients in European countries. They buy locally, and the EU (and probably Australia, too) has strict regulations on the quality of food. Styrofoam was banned as food packaging years ago, and plastics are also disappearing. Paper straws have been introduced, I think, last year, but I always order my drink without a lid because I hate drinking through straws. I can't remember a McCafe here, but there was a McBreakfast many years ago, intended for people driving to work in the morning. It wasn't a success.
@@eisikater1584 Wow. I walk down to my local Maccas to get my cappuccino (20-minute walk) before boarding the light rail to get to work every day. For more than 15 years. The tradies order the breakfast, of course, but they are doing a hard job (but getting paid WAY more than me).
@@antheabrouwer3258Seems like you live in an urban area. I did once, but moved back to the countryside when I got the offer to work from home. "My" McD's is a half hour drive (one way) if there is no accident, congestion, or construction. And delivery service, what's that? Doesn't exist here. I like the word "Maccas". In German, we say "Mäckes", different spelling, but the pronunciation should be quite the same.
![[UNCUT] หวั่นขาดความเชื่อมั่น ศาล รธน. วินิจฉัยคดีถอนถอนนายกฯ เศรษฐา | คนดังนั่งเคลียร์ | 14 ส.ค. 67](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8hKvQe_vh3o/mqdefault.jpg)
You can implement reusable containers into take-outs with the German Pfand-system. You pay a small fee for the containers and if you bring it back, you get your fee back
That is how we do it in sweden
Ich bin manchmal nicht sicher, ob es gemacht wurde, um Armut zu bekämpfen. 🤐
You are talking to people who like to live in 500m2 houses that have air-conditioning running 24/7, even at moderate temperatures and who create over 500kg of garbage per person per year.
@@dan_mer then it's even more important to talk to them and at least let them know that there are solutions that they might not even be aware of. I'm sure, many people would want to live more sustainably, but just don't know how or what to demand from the politics
The Netherlands does that too
2:25
Just to clarify... when we say "pas terrible" in France, it's not a compliment; it doesn't mean "not as bad as I feared" but "not good" or at least "just average".
in germany that would be the highest honor one could bestow. "kann man essen"(eatable)
Really? Wow, good to know. I mean the original comment. About the input from Germany I know as a German for sure and it is pretty right!
@@Winona493
Well, literally it means "not terrible" (could be worse), but we don't mean that as "good enough", rather as "could be way better"... a case of seeing the glass half empty you could say.
;)
@@19Edurne Thanks. The French are a bit pessimistic, picky and naggy, it seems. But because of this you maybe have the best European kitchen! You have, for sure. But as the French: please do some research about the vegan kitchen! You' re still behind when it comes to veganism and that is a pity. Keep your standards even in this topic! That is my birthday wish.
@@Winona493
Sorry to quash your hopes, but to me the best vegetable will always be meat.
I think, seeing your reaction about the differences between Europe and the US, that living in Europe would be the better option for you. Watching all your videos, I can see how happy you are being in Europe.
Move here while you’re still young. You will not regret it.
Pick a nice spot you prefer and go for it.
That's exactly what I have been thinking watching his videos. Instead of pointing out all the differences and dreaming about life in Europe, I would just move there and not just visit once a year. Unless there's something holding him back...
NO NO NO NO! Stop coming to Europe to live there! Come here, see and experience how our society works, vote blue and create your own society like that. The 53 houses street where I live already has 5 houses that are sold or rented to USA citizens and our kids are unable to move to their own home because of shortages.
@@dikkiedik53I think you dont understand how fucked american "democracy" is. The people have little to no control over the really important stuff. If you vote blue they build a lot of suburbs with single family homes. If you vote red you have to build them yourself. Either way you're not getting a house anytime in the next 100 years if you're under 30 now.
Also, same could be said for us. Why arent we voting to build bigger buildings? More people coming here from countries like the US would boost our economy and quality of life immensely.
Also also, i wouldnt blame americans for the housing crisis. Not sure how many americans migrate here, but there's absolutely no way they're a significant part of the population. I personally have never even met an american here. Its more so that most homes are now owned by 3 companies who have a monopoly on the housing market and they inflate the prices significantly
@@dikkiedik53 That's circumstantial evidence. Sucks for you, but there's barely any US'ians moving here, at least in the Netherlands. And even then- we're not full, we just have a shortage of houses, so we need to build more to get more people, as our population would otherwise be decreasing (and almost all of our main industries are partially sustained by foreign workers, like with ASML)
Tho out of all the people who could move here, I'm the least fan of US'ians. But I bet when they get more accustomed to the culture here, they will improve their behavioral things that bother me. Lol.
You visited Europe. In Germany the Pfand for cans and bottles.. could also work for the McDonalds wear.
Exactly my thought, the same kind of automatic returns.
And with a suitably large sum people *will* do it.
Perhaps make it more advanced too.
Give each a QR code, if handed in soon return 100% of the sum, or give that sum as a discount.
The sum should be higher then the purchasing cost for McDonalds of the containers.
If people wait with returning them return 80% of the sum instead of 100%, so the risk of germs growing there and getting into the plastics is lower or damage due to UV radiation etc...
On the whole the system should more or less pay for itself...
@@Luredreier I was at a KFC here in the Netherlands just yesterday and the cups had a QR code on the bottom. You pay € 1,50 deposit for the cup which will be refunded through a machine reading the QR code. Only problem I have with it, is that it transfers the money to your account through an app. I use that particular app, but at the same time as I was there, an older couple really struggled with it. The employees didn't care and said they couln't help. So we ended up paying them their refund in cash as we took the cups through the machine. This was only for the cups, all other material at KFC is cardboard and paper which can be recycled. Except for the plastic bags the sauces are in.
It could... but since deposit cups aren't mandatory, but only an option in Germany, McDonald serves everything in cardboard cups if you don't ask specifically for reusable ones.
It could work... If the legislation was done right, with intention an the recycling system stem was a good one and of course, do not forget, people's education
The trouble is, with countries like USA not caring about the planet it makes the initiatives of France and a few other EU countries seem like a drop in the ocean. Here in Croatia we have far too much plastic packaging.
I mean you got to start somewhere, and I think that these kind of initiatives prove that it's possible to make it work. But yeah I think there is a need to put more pressure on certain countries that contribute way more to the overall degradation of the planet so they make arrangements.
Australia & Italy are the same as France regarding this.
Table service is not "sometimes" anymore, it's always in all McDo now.
When you pass your order and choose to eat at a table, they gave you a small slate with a number and when your food is ready, some staff members member look after your number and serve your meal. With that and the reusable tableware, yep we turn McDonalds almost into a real restaurant in France :p
In Germany the table service is available too, but not in all restaurants.
Also in the Netherlands we have table services at McDonalds. 😄
In Wales too
I have seen table service in Sweden, Germany and England for many years now. Even before Covid-19.
We have had it in the US for years as well but it's not well-known since most people are doing takeout
In Norway, we've had a system for recycling bottles of glass and plastic for nearly 80 years (cans came into this system like 20-30 years ago). You pay a small fee when you buy the product and later you can return it at designated palces (usually in supermarkets) to get that fee back in cash (only plastic and bewerage cans have this fee nowadays). Its basically a pawn system. Its been working great. If Fast food chains also did this with their cups and such, it would just be sustainable as people would be less inclined to steal or dmg them to reduce plastic usuage. Good video.
We have a similar system in Canada. A consignment fee is tacked on to the cost of beverages sold in glass or plastic bottles or aluminium cans at time of purchase and the fee is refunded when the empty containers are returned. The system is easy and efficient.
Man, you made me hungry! I live in the southeast of Germany, and France is a little bit too far away to drive there for a snack, but the French really love their food, so it's no wonder that McD's adapted. They wouldn't have gotten a foot on the ground there if they hadn't.
Grüße aus NRW, bei uns sind sie wirklich eher wie in den USA.
fern - the english version of Simplicissimus - such a great channel. Please more content from them :)
It's not only their content, but a mix between them and the Dutch TH-camr Hoog, who does the voiceover for most of their videos as well.
You are allowed to eat Burger in Germany, but Not Bürger 😂
When I worked in France in the late 80's, early 90's McDonalds sold wine with your meal. Yes, a true McVin. Red or White.
Still healthier than coke
This isn't just a french thing tbh. I'm in Belgium, and it's like this too. Same in Luxemburg, the Netherlands as far as I know
La Belgique c'est pas un pays. C'est une ancienne province de l'empire français qui rage au foot.
@@lyc0h la Belgique était avant BELGICA, ça existait avant même que les français aient décidé de s'appeler français. Quand vous aviez juste l'Aquitaine et autour, donc faut arrêter de faire le malin.
Les français ont bouffé le sud qui franchement est plus espagnol que français et la Flandre au nord. Le reste de BELGICA les pays bas l'avait récupérer.
Et puis plus d'il y a un siècle, le pays, à ce moment devenue la france, a rendu une misère de ce qui a avait pris. L'Allemagne et les pays bas aussi pour réformer le pays maintenant appelé Belgique.
Clairement non seulement tu sais pas de quoi tu parles, mais en plus tu ramènes le foot que personne n'a mentionné.
Quand y a littéralement des club de foots hooligans en grande Bretagne et que les français sont les seuls à rager dès que la Belgique va plus plus loin en coupe du monde ou autres compétition.
Alors que qd on gagne les pays sont content pour nous comme on est content pour eux.
Si il y a bien une définition de rageux en Europe... c'est bien la France les numéros 1.
Avec les parisiens qui gagnent la palme.
I have never been to McDo in the US, so I may be talking to McDo who already do this : anyway, in France, every McDo has a special place for children to work off their energy after their meal : stairs to climb, basket ball to play, races to run with obstacles etc. I think this is a very good thing !
Some of the McDs in the USA have mini playgrounds.
@@reindeer7752 in France all mcdo have playgroud except little mcdo in city center
@Noelegamer - There are 13,438 McD's in the USA and 1,564 in France. Since, some of the ones in the USA are right on main roads with traffic fumes, its quite reasonable not to have children playing there.
@@reindeer7752 playgroud are insade the mcdo not at exterior
We also have table service in the NL. You place your order on those big touch screens, take a number, and they'll come bring it to your table. This has decreased my rage when waiting for my order significantly lol. Recently visited McD again, we also have these hard-plastic reusable cups now, but it doesn't look as good as the French version unfortunately lmao. When you're ordering from them at home, you don't get the reusable stuff, but everything's made from recycled (I think) paper.
Also... I spend 3 months in North Carolina a few years ago. I still miss those McBiscuits for breakfast, not gonna lie!!
It's the same in Croatia. Also helps that I don't need to talk to anyone, I can just order on my own and get it delivered to the table. Introvert heaven.
Same in Sweden.
@@Hosigie Yeah I imagine that's a good development for introverts :) So what's the national special on the Croatian McDonald's menu? if I'm ever there :D
Have you ever heard of "McTrain"..? Maybe not, as americans don't use a lot of trains! But yeah: There was a time in Germany, when trains had a McDo restaurant on board! :) People didn't like it much, so now they use a bistro restaurant. What's still avaible is: McBoat! It's a McDo with a drive-trough for boats! ... not sure if it is a thing in the US, maybe not, ... at some McDos there are McCafé attachted. Very nice styled café, where you get coffee, espesso, cappucino, cakes, doughnuts and other sweet stuff - served on ceramic cups and ceramic plates - and real metal forks and spoons! :)
Where are these mcboats? By the way, I'd love a Mctrain.
@@Jona-cn3leYou'll find McBoat in Hamburg, Germany.
@@JohnHazelwood58 Naja wo sonst 😂❤️
There was a McDonalds at the cruise ship MS Silja Europa that goes on regular trafic between Finland and Sweden in the 90s. The first floating McDonalds in the world. Wasn't a big hit and they were only open a couple of years.
Joel i am in the middle of englands ,in the North West Midlands near Stoke-on-Trent, in newcastle-under-lyme the mcdonald's has gone like France has,all modern,new tables chairs and as you order .as you get in at several order screens then you can go collect or have it brought to your table when placing order on screen click table service and your tables number
Feli from Germany did a video once where she talked about culture shucks coming to America. One was that you using one way plastic even if you eat at home and you had a dish washer! You had to chance your attitude, I think or your mindset... Or move😄
And it's the same at Burger King, Five Guys, KFC, Popeye's and the other fast food chains in France. Unfortunately, for takeaway, they still use paper wrappings and paper cups.
4:34 I was in Paris before 1997 and have seen McDonald's stores there, so it can't be that they have only been in France since 1997, probably they mean 1979
It's not just the food/packaging that's different, but the benefits to the employees are, as well, i.e. starting at 4 weeks paid vacation/year.
I wish everyone happy Easter from northern Germany.🐰💜
About the single use containers: I personally get the impression that Americans more often than not will use disposable plates, cups, baking tins and what not at home ON A DAILY BASIS, is that right? If so, WHY? What about normal, washable tableware, glass cups?
I've heard from people who travel a lot say that every fast food chain is better in Europe than in the US. In the US, you would go to e.g. McD because you have to, not because you really want to.
Before obese and vegan lobbies went through, it was even better. May it McD, Burger King or the others. Fast food and junk food were always associated. But it was a change in taste and quality. There were always more balanced food in restaurants and some even made vegetarian food. Noone forced anyone to eat fast food. Then, at some point, the steaks in the burgers were like cardboards.
A few years later, we finally get normal burgers back. Of course meat here are still less greasy, but the taste is back. Steaks used to be 150 grams, now it's 75 grams.
Not sure but with nutritions value in trend, I think Mc Donald's and other American chains made it so the basic menu fill the maximum nutritious value per meal. More or less.
In my opinion, it's useless because despite what people complain about, they will always overeat, for most of them.
As for reusable packaging, you have to know the first time they implement it, it was more of traditional dishware. And obviously, there were a lot of theft. In the same scale as bars were subjected to glasses theft as collectible. It happens less as almost all glasses have become standardized and brands rarely order special series any longer.
These new versions of reusable table wares sure are now awesome and contribute in improving Mc Donald's image and sales.
Last point. I don't know about other countries in EU, but Mc Donald's has always the first fasfood chain in France. They have often been ranked first in number of meals served.
There is a video on here that shows you the difference between the added fats/chemcials and flavourings in US fast food the EU, You've got loads of bad things in there that aren't needed. Then they sell folk medical products to get rid of the symptoms that the stuff in the food gives folk.
Well, we don't really go there because we want to either😂. It's usually just for conveniance in a stressful or unusual situation, or as teenager (because it's camparably cheap). Sometimes as a "treat" or when you crave something fatty and unhealthy. It was shocking to me how common it is in the US to eat bad fast food. The US has some smaller good chains that we don't have though.
@@max_sch4462 Honestly, here in France, it's cheaper to go in a small local restaurant than a fastfood or pizzeria. Even Kabob start inflating their prices. With a kabob and drink starting around 8-9€ while a daily special is around the same cost.
That was such a great video that you reacted to that I have subscribed to Fern's channel.
KFC in Spijkenisse, the Netherlands; you pay a deposit for the plastic beverage cup.
Hell yeah! Watching some Fern. They do really good and compact documentaries on all sorts of topics and are usually quite reaction-friendly.
So if something peaks your curiosity I'd like to see some more reactions to Fern. :D
French are the best 😂❤
Greetz from germany 🌍🫂
Love Germany from France 🇫🇷❤️🇩🇪
@@emycharaa ❤️💜🫂
In the Netherlands you pay an extra fee for every single use bottlle or can. If you return the single use bottle or can back to the store, you will get the extra fee back. We call it “ statiegeld” . The returned bottles or cans will be recycled.
I love how recognizable some voices are, I listened to the first segment and had to look up if Simplicissimus (their German channel) posted a video on this topic 😅
McDonald's in France doesn't use frozen burgers.
The taste is so different.
The patty stays moist, unlike the frozen hockey puck.
Damn the Dutch did that man dirty w the ad campaign showing off a french chef 🤣
When foreign people want non-toxic food, America replies with tariffs.
In Spain, Mc Donalds now just uses paper and cardboard exclusivelly. For everything. Even the fork for the salads.
if you want to look at how many plastic in the ocean, afterwards on the beaches, come to Norway/Lofoten. Each year people clean the beaches, voluntary, it's a movement and they gets tons of. garbage and plastic!
Years ago Wimpy in the UK would cook the food while you were there and food was on china plates and tea/coffee in china cups and saucers ... I loved Wimpy ... how things have changed for the worst
Thank you again for the great video. A very interesting point you cover here. It will be very important for the future how to prevent waste. In Germany we have the deposit system for drinks, which is to be introduced across Europe in the near future. This has worked here with drinks (water, juices, wine, milk and also Coke) for decades.
Similar to Norway (as nicotine 4015 also explains) Only in Germany it's on almost everything (except drink cartons and a few plastic bottles). There is no higher deposit on single-use plastic bottles so that they can actually be returned and recycled. There is a lower deposit on reusable plastic or glass bottles and the manufacturers get them back so they can be cleaned and refilled.
I get the impression that the reusable tableware like in France could also work excellently for you in the States. Of course it has to be uniform and so you can exchange the dishes that you picked up at McDo the night before at Burger King or someone else. They want to establish this in Europe when it comes to tableware and that's a good thing. Look for videos about the German deposit system for drinks, that will definitely be very interesting for you considering your reaction to this video... t c
That French approach to single use plastic sounds great. I hope the Netherlands get more strict on plastic too. We're working on it, but definitely not as fast.
We have table service at McDonalds in Sweden as well.
All but a couple of EU countries, plus the UK, Norway, Switzerland, Taiwan, China, Jamaica, Rwanda, Kenya, and some Canadian provinces and Australian cities ban single-use thin plastic bags, takeaway containers, and cups. They also require stores to charge for other plastic bags.
i hope you react to more stuff from Fern!
Guten morgen from germany
Guten Morgen aus nrw
Starbucks does that here - they sell reusable branded cups and if you bring that cup in yourself the next times the coffee is cheaper because you bring your own
All I can say as a french macdonald's employe is we do not like the reusable packaging
Mc Donalds Germany is using like all-paper packaging.
Which means they are still producing tons of waste, just not so much plastic.
Reusable is obviously better than recycleable, but even the French can't make reusable stuff work for takeout.
Funny story about packaging: I bought new blinds for my Velux windows. Both I got were produced in Germany, but 1 produced before the plastic reduction doctrine hit, one after.
The one from before was obviously made for display in a store. Shiny all-round print, bit plastic window to look at the product, nifty plastic mechanism to help install it, fitted styrofoam inserts.
The one from after was just a brown carton with a sticker. Clearly the idea here is online sale. No plastic stuff to help install, but far simpler cardboard to do the same job, just less shiny. No window, no plastic bags, no styrofoam. Paper, paper and more paper.
I weighed the mass of plastics and the one before was like 50g of plastic. After, like 2g.
Also the before one had a metal screw driver with a separate plastic grip piece. So that was a lot of added metal weight for a single-use item. Of which you would receive multiples when you have more windows. Making them effectively superfluous, even if you have no damn screw driver in your home before.
A very powerful demonstration of state power enforcing an environmental policy that could hurt your business, if it wouldn't apply to everyone the same. But since everyone plays by the same rules, it's a net win for everyone. Velux doesn't need to overpay for pricy, overengineered plastic, the consumer doesn't get bombarded with bulky styrofoam and the environment is less poluted with plastics.
Ate a McDo in Paris before taking the plane then got a voucher to go to Munich's airport McDonalds. Those two were world apart, while it's service at your table, fresh local vegetables and meat in France, it was pretty much leather quality in Munich. Didn't even finished it. Might be one bad experience but overall i think there is a good reason McDo France is the second most profitable worldwide
In Spain, we have selective collection, we recycle plastic, paper and cardboard, organic, and then we have the non-recycled garbage. The containers are placed by the city councils of each city so that it can be recycled. The bad thing is that not all people do it, only those who are aware of it.
Table Service isnt only in France....
I get your point. But I believe the aim of this video is: If we care enough about something and make it reach to governments even a giant as Mr Mc have to invest and turn things around to fit in. Obviously a country with more take away will have to look for another solution, but that doesn't mean there is no solution or at list a better option than the actual. Also even if 30% is in restaurant sales, a 30% of a huge garbage mountain, makes it a garbage hill less of residues.
I haven´t visited McD here in Finland over a year becouse i don´t consume any carbs, but before that all the food are packaged same way no matter do you eat in the restaurant or if you order take away. But only the cover of your drink has plastic in it.
From Australia. A friend of mine is a cattle producer who has won many awards for her beef. A few years ago she was shocked to see Maccas advertising Angus burgers using her branded name without authority. Their response was that it was "like" award wining beef. C'mon! They eventually paid a large settlement but the biggest thing that annoyed her was the damage caused to her business by them selling something that tastes like cardboard referencing her brand. I've never worked out how they turn top beef into the crap they sell. Must be their secret recipe!
I don't know how it works in other countries, but in The Netherlands, you pay a deposit on your cup which you'll get back when you return it.
I remember in the 80’s-90’s when the burgers used to come in a styrofoam-box, then they changed to paper. Then they got rid of the plastic-straw (just recently) and changed to a cardbox-straw, good for the environment maybe but a really horrible idea since it get mushy fast.
One could always ask for the plastic one though (they hide it nowadays).
I think the main difference between the US and the EU is the sizes and the levels of sugar.
Actually there is a difference in every country because the menu is not the same. Also Coca Cola tastes different depending on where you are in the world.
16:37 In Germany, if you go to the bakery and want a coffee, you can either choose the disposable packaging, i.e. single-use or reusable packaging, and then you buy it once, which is a bit more expensive, and then the next time you have to bring the cup yourself.
Even in the UK we get table service. Just waiting until like France and Spain I can get a pint of beer with my burger.
This just goes to show that governments need to legislate to change corporate behaviour. This French McDo solution works in France because it is the culture to eat in, and can therefore sort their trash into the different recycling bins. Using such (rather cool, I have to admit) designer plastic ware in drive-through, take-away cultures would be even more environmentally harmful, because people would throw the heavier plastics away and not recycle them. McDonalds in Australia (Maccas) uses almost entirely paper packaging, including the straws. They still retain plastic drink lids and plastic containers for the ice cream desserts (or whatever that stuff actually is). Not sure what the Happy Meal packaging is though - I suspect the toys that the kids lose or break within hours of getting them are still plastic. But government legislation is the reason for converting largely to paper packaging.
The problem is, in USA the big companies own the government.
Do you mean to tell me that the ice-cream machines in Australia McDonald's actually work???
Actually, McDonald's ice cream machines work everywhere. I was surprised about somebody complaining they were always broken in the US, and I thought it was a joke, but it's actually real.
McDonald's was introduced in my country in the early 90s, and there was one next to a walking area and it was common to get in just for an ice cream cone.
I've been in many countries and continents, and I've always had ice cream in McDonald's.
So, yeah, good government regulation is better than good ol' free market capitalism just let us screw you a bit more while you pay more.
You’re assuming that people wouldn’t recycle it, but in Europe most people do.
That packaging hasn’t rolled out everywhere in Paris yet. But even Disneyland Paris has mostly reusable dishes and packaging now, even in the quick service restaurants. The laws require it. The long lines at fast food places here have always astonished me, though. They recently opened the first Krispy Kreme and people camped overnight in freezing rain to get the giveaways for their first customers.
They’re also covering the parking lots at Disneyland here with solar panels that should enable the resort to produce a lot of its own power.
They still use disposable stuff for carry out, to answer your question. I think it just has to be recyclable.
What's better, reusable plastic or one-way paper/carton? Would really like a study on that. It's not immediately obvious to me. I mean, I guess the paper/carton also has a thin layer of plastic coating these days. But only a very thin one.
We have table service in the UK too, I see mainly older people use this service.
Would love to see reusable packaging in the UK soon.
Maybe we in the UK should be in the EU! (goes into hiding!)
Yep, but daft people.....
Welcome back after you tared and feathered the brexiteers/Putins puppets who caused brexit!
Most of the people I know where sad to see you leave. It was just this constant whining that got on our nerves.
Either you are in or you are out. There never could be another deal.
Though it has amused me to hear that there is frozen Pizza in North Ireland made in Germany marked with a sales restriction to North Ireland.
Although you might wish to fact check your government from time to time. The new stuff needed for visiting the EU, yeah, what can I say. The British government also voted for that when you were still in the EU. The EU is not 'punishing' the UK.
@@Dreamfox-df6bg I Voted Leave but we were lied to and I made the mistake of trusting Politicians!! Yeah I know stupid!! Maybe one day we'll be back! if there is still a World left!
@@petersp63I understand.
I have noticed long before that that our own politicians tended to take credit for anything good the EU brought us and blame everything bad in the EU if true or not.
Before the Brexit I wouldn't have been sure if the people around here hadn't voted the same.
People didn't realize that no matter how bad some things the EU brought were it also brought a lot of good stuff.
To be honest, we could have used a very critical EU member to force the others to start working on the downsides.
Hi, Joel! Wow, it gave me a "science fiction feeling", like in a movie. Greetings from Germany! ✌
You can get table service at some McDonald's in the UK, too
European here. I never saw those reusable McD tupperware. If I did I would have a set at home! LOL
Because its only in France.
@@TheXshot
I don't thinknit is in france for long either...
I strongly suspect it was a limited experiment in maybe just one restaurant and it turned out to be way more troublesome and using alot more resources cleaning plastic tubs... So I feel pretty sure it is not in use anywhere.
I could be wrong. But I am usually good at educated guessing.😆
@@JokerInk-CustomBuilds No, it's here to stay. And the takeaway food is mostly in paper wrapping.
@@TheXshotit’s also here in the Netherlands, at least for drinks and ice cream.
It's the way ahead, Joel - McDonald's arent the only Amercian fast food chain to be adapting to local ways, even in the UK! Sure, we don't yet have the standard of comfort in our restaurants or the nice reusable containers - but we're all acutely aware of the need to recycle as much as we're able, and all the reasons why. Starbucks, Costa and most of the other coffee houses offer re-useable cups for sale - the idea being that you carry your own cup and hand it to them for filling when you place your order, and then you get a small discount for doing so... It doesn't have to be one of their cups either - anything of the same volume is acceptable, even if it advertises a rival company (though not many people actually try that one on!). Recycled paper cups are still available, including insulated ones, but your drinks often costs a little more if you rely on them. Table service is also increasingly common again - you order in the normal way, take a number, ensure it is recorded in your order slip, then go and sit down. (Actually, I've been praying for decades that the mostly student-run coffee houses will realise this, as will have most others who have stood in a lengthy queue, caused by no other reason than the speed or capacity of the coffee machine...! And - Marks & Spencer's please take note - it is even more annoying when all you need is water for your TEA!!) McD.'s do it, Burger King does it, KFC is increasingly doing it too. Outer bags are not automatically provided anymore and there's a charge if you want one; while the polystyrene food containers are long gone - in favour of recycled cardboard ones! Out in the supermarkets meanwhile, you pay anything between 50p and a couple of quid for a "Bag for Life", which they'lll replace, free of charge, when it becomes too worn to use any more. Poly carrier bags are still available, but have cost extra for years, now - and in some stores are only fractionally less that a 'Bag for Life'.... Some companies - notably Morrison's and M & S, now sell strong paper carrier bags instead - recycled paper, of course! This film is a real eye-opener - I particularly like the "Croque McDo," as the posh cheese and ham toastie is the go-to snack for the French - "Un Croque Monsieur." Now if only Starbuck's could be persuaded to pay their multi-million pounds tax bill....
French here, you guys in US don't get table service? Thought it comes from you, like a Diner experience
My problem with McDonald's is that I'm used to eating in a civilized manner with cutlery. I also find it pretty disgusting to see how people try to shove a burger that is way too big into their mouths and cover themselves with sauces and fat.
I actually have two of the KFC cups. I felt a bit like a thief even though I basically paid for it.
The reason is that here in leftwing nut town (aka The Netherlands) most companies are now also not allowed paper cups for coffee or water. And I am a freelancer so I work where there's work. So I use that KFC plastic cup as my water cup. And I rarely do MacDonalds or BK (or even KFC). We just have so many better options here in NL. A good Surinam Roti, or a great Indonesian Rendang.
Here in the UK McDonald's has had to change its colours to Green and Yellow. This may be all over Europe as well as I haven't seen one when I travel. McDonald's for some time tried to get a place in the town of Richmond upon Thames which was vetoed by the local council and residents. It was only agreed upon after they agreed to make it as inconspicuous as possible. As a result it wasn't the best of places to go!
So you can actually make some change for the good of general public, environment etc. if no big lobby in favour of profit only is involved... 🤔🤣
As a Ukrainian, I can say quite a few things how EU is impacting MCDONALD'S or KFC's operations in Europe, even though Ukraine is not part of the EU yet.
Table service - yes, the employees track the tag you specify in your order and bring your food to the table, even is you are on the second floor
Sorting waste - when you are finished eating, you are expected to sort your waste into separate bins. Liquids and solids remains go into their designated buckets, and then you also sort plastic and carton waste
Self-checkout: you just come to the stand, select what you want, pay by card, and the receipt will have your order number. When your food is ready, they will call out the food number and you take it. Or, as I mentioned, if you want to eat in and don't want to wait, you just pick the tag and specify the number and they'd bring it to you.
When I was visiting in France, I was quite surprised that they don't usually take out in general. Probably, that is much to do with traditions of food consumption. But if we talk about the US, that also has everything to do with the food consumption traditions of preferring a meal in the confinds of your own home, even if the meal was not cooked in your own kitchen.
Mc Donalds now also mainly uses paper based container for the food in France.
Belgian here (flemish) we also say mcdo and the restaurants look really similar. Ofcourse, Belgium is smashed between France, Netherlands, Germany and luxenbourg. Ofc, we have the best of all of em in a way :p.
Generally we let the netherlands do everything new, and 10 years later, after we see it works or not, we copy it 😂 well, except our highways
They seem to love ‘Five Guys’ in Paris a lot. A friend I was staying with was very excited to take me there cause I’d not had it before in Australia. I couldn’t share her love of it though, haha. Was ok, but as overpriced as hell.
MD in France in 1997??
I remember having been in MD in Straßburg (very east of France) in the 1980s. And one of the reasons was that it was a different taste compared to the German side of the river Rhine.
I need to go to France now! Mcdonald's Japan is fascinating too.
Haven't been to a McD (germany) in maybe 10 years. Only time i'd go there when i go on a longer train ride and need a snack midnight waiting for a connection. Anytime else i can make a better burger in much shorter time it would take to drive to the next McD. And i would want a burger maybe four or five times a year anyway.
MacDonalds is still open in Russia, they just changed the name to "Delicious" same with Coca-Cola
i can remember that are McDumb restaurant burned in the late 1990s, in France!
9:20 It was either adapt survive and thrive or ... end like Walmart in Germany.
Off topic question Joel. Does the key bridge affect the you at all.
it's not that hard. make a financial insentive to return the said packaging to the store. like 15% off your bill if you return the "tableware" at your next visit. do that and you'll see loads of people onboard with it.
In Germany it is forbidden now to take out your left over food in plastic given from the restaurant! But who cares? I love it and always take a "Tupperware" with me when I visit a restaurant, because I need it, even in Germany with its small sizes as the Americans say. For me they are still way too big. In the US I probably need two or three containers.😂
you should not forget that Mc Donalds is a franchise company.. so if a frenchmen has a mc-licence he will try to make his shop likeable to the french audience
In Germany, the packaging and even the straws at MacDonalds are all made of paper (with the exception of the little sauce packs, which of course, are not going to last in paper. I’d prefer the to have reusable plastics as well, but the paper is at least recyclable.
fern is a great channel i highly recommend watching more videos by them
12:23 I would say that he has a green thumb in Germany rather than France.
Do not forget that Europe is not just France and Italy. Many Americans tend to think that.
Mc donalds did the right thing to adapt, Walmart didn't.
McDonald's France looks like McDonald's UK, but different. It's' yellow/white on black colours here too. Natural wood colours, comfortable seating etc. Depends on which McDonald's you go to though. I think there are still yellow on red McDonald's. I haven't seen a McDonald's with the odd interior design and colour scheme that the US McDonald's has. I don't think we have the big McDonald's roadside signs either, possibly because I am wrong and haven't seen one and/or because the motorways and roads don't have ads on them (or at least it's rare to see a roadside billboard)
smaller quantity, better quality :)
MoreJps Please Could you post the link to the original video? thx
Third video seen - following earned.
fern is a phantastic channel 👌🏻
Der Typ in dem betrachteten Video redet, als hätte er Wasser im Zahn. 😁
We have a mcdonolds in Leeds next to Leeds United ground and its in leeds colours yellow blue& white with signed football pictures 😂
One of the reasons is that in the USA the government does not take care of the healthcare or the environment they put money and profit above humans. This is why mcdonald’s are obligated to adjust to regulations related to wellbeing in countries where people are cared upon. Sadly The USA invades countries around the world with their cheap chains without respecting cultural foods and habits. I am Canadian, I traveled extensively and I am always disappointed with this invasion, where ever you want to take a picture of an attraction there’s either a restaurant, a coffee shop shop in the way. They buy the best street corners, or they are attached to the attraction one way or the other. They overpay so the owner have no choice but surrender. Lately I went to Taiwan, and they are invaded with so many American brand it looked like a joke. Funny that the country is supposed to be protected by the US not to be invaded by the Chinese while they are already invaded commercially by the very one who’s their to protect them. Go figure. Just an other observation, Canadians are invaded by American tv, film and music, when you cross the border by car, it take few miles before the Canadians waves are cut. Sadly the Us is cutting its chances to discover a very rich French and English Canadian culture has the rest of the world can. Just drive to Montreal and go to a mcdonald’s, you’ll already see the quality difference
Also the icecream machines are not broken
I am not a McDo fan but in France there is only a McDo nearby. I tried it and it was actually nice. They had the tableware they wash like in the vid. I tried McDo back in Belgium and it just wasn’t as good. I suspect McDo in France has higher standards maybe because French are fussy about food and have many alternatives.
Burger King and Quick on the other hand seem the same in France and Belgium.
I’m English but have lived in France for over a decade, I moved here when I was 8. The French food regulations for McDonald’s are so strict, the quality is so good. All McDonalds have table service in France now and they are all so clean and modern. I’ve heard the ones in Italy are also really good but I doubt they are better than France. 🇫🇷 ❤
Now you know where to do, a 'Must got, next time you visit. Europa. It's just a train ride from Germany 😀
I find single use plastic food container esp. for warm meals quite unappetizing.
McDonalds is also better in Australia. We have better quality ingredients. However, we need those cool reusable containers, this is next level!! Styrofoam was discontinued years ago. And we are phasing out the plastic. Paper straws. McFlurrys and Sundaes are served in cardboard containers that will break down in landfill. Hormone treatment for animals that will be used for food is banned. We also have bigger tables as many groups visit the restaurant. We also have macarons in McCafe, Australia (McCafe originated in Australia).
Germany here. It's just the same with the ingredients in European countries. They buy locally, and the EU (and probably Australia, too) has strict regulations on the quality of food. Styrofoam was banned as food packaging years ago, and plastics are also disappearing. Paper straws have been introduced, I think, last year, but I always order my drink without a lid because I hate drinking through straws. I can't remember a McCafe here, but there was a McBreakfast many years ago, intended for people driving to work in the morning. It wasn't a success.
@@eisikater1584 Wow. I walk down to my local Maccas to get my cappuccino (20-minute walk) before boarding the light rail to get to work every day. For more than 15 years. The tradies order the breakfast, of course, but they are doing a hard job (but getting paid WAY more than me).
@@antheabrouwer3258Seems like you live in an urban area. I did once, but moved back to the countryside when I got the offer to work from home. "My" McD's is a half hour drive (one way) if there is no accident, congestion, or construction. And delivery service, what's that? Doesn't exist here.
I like the word "Maccas". In German, we say "Mäckes", different spelling, but the pronunciation should be quite the same.